# The Critic vs Western Telegraph

The clearest difference is update cadence: Western Telegraph at every 4 months against The Critic's every 34 months. The Critic's advantage is iOS requirement (11.2 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The Critic sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 3 months and Western Telegraph sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

The Critic ships an update every 34 months, Western Telegraph every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Critic | Western Telegraph |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-critic/id1490412624/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **7** | — |
| Positive reviews | 14.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 34 months | **Every 4 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 25 MB | 147 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.2** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [LOCOMOTIVE 6960 LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1490412623) | [Newsquest](https://appshunter.io/developer/504547133) |

## What reviewers say

### The Critic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-critic/id1490412624)

This monthly magazine offers in-depth analysis of politics, ideas, art, and literature. It aims to foster honest criticism and intellectual rigor, providing a platform for diverse voices and perspectives.

**Highlights:** Monthly magazine download, Politics, ideas, art, literature coverage, In-depth analysis, Open-minded readership, Purchase current and back issues, Subscription options available

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Critic 3M Auto-Renew Sub | $9.99 | per 3 months |
| The Critic 12M Auto-Renew Sub | $25.49 | per year |
| November 2019 (pp:667449) | $5.99 | one-time |
| April 2020 (pp:667457) | $5.99 | one-time |
| February 2020 (pp:667459) | $5.99 | one-time |
| March 2020 (pp:667458) | $5.99 | one-time |
| April 2021 (pp:711174) | $5.99 | one-time |
| May 2021 (pp:711169) | $5.99 | one-time |
| June 2021 (pp:711164) | $5.99 | one-time |
| July 2021 (id:694054) | $6.99 | one-time |
| The Critic | $39.99 | one-time |


### Western Telegraph

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/western-telegraph/id6476144355)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| Annual Subscription | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Critic free?

The Critic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Western Telegraph free?

Western Telegraph is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do The Critic or Western Telegraph have ads?

Neither The Critic nor Western Telegraph shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Critic or Western Telegraph?

The Critic ships an update every 34 months, and Western Telegraph every 4 months. Most recently, The Critic was updated on October 25, 2026 and Western Telegraph on October 9, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*